Federated Farmers: Feds reviewing adverse event response

Kristy McGregor

Federated Farmers' focus on adverse events adds value to membership. One of the unwelcome themes of 2015 has been the scale and significance of weather related adverse events.

Federated Farmers' role in responding to these events is being reviewed to improve outcomes for farmers and rural communities.

Adverse event is a broad term encapsulating a long duration, such as the insidious nature of a drought, while also, immediate impact events like flooding, or extreme wind.

From a central government perspective, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is the lead agency for adverse event responses.

MPI's role is intended to provide guidelines around what resources central government can provide.

A framework is applied for assessing the impacts of an adverse event, with a classification process used to establish whether the event is considered a localised, medium or large scale event.

Once a declaration is made, the Government decides what level of support is available to assist rural communities and individuals recovering from an event.

The primary industry, rural support trusts, local communities and individuals all join together on an MPI response.

Where there is no official declaration a response may still occur, however, it is community- or industry-led, not MPI-led.

Depending on the event, Civil Defence may also play a part as they have in response to the central North Island floods, again with clearly defined roles.

That is the plan, but as Mike Tyson once said, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth".

In a flood event, it is boots on the ground, immediate impact, for as long as it takes. In a drought event, there is virtually too much time to respond. Plan too much for one and you will end up having to deal with the latter.

Still, there remain some important consistencies between what is required in responding to adverse events.

Those communities impacted are generally knee-deep and need some external support.

An efficient and effective response requires some organisation to have occurred prior, ideally including those who are generally involved in any response.

The latter aspect is particularly relevant when it comes to rural communities. As Canterbury farmers demonstrated through the 'Farmy Army' response to the Canterbury earthquakes, the farmer way is to get in there early and help out as much as possible.

This lend-a-hand nature has also been reflected in offers of donated feed between neighbours and exchange between North and South Islands over the years.

Primary sector organisations and those who engage with farmers regularly tend to also pitch in when rural communities are impacted.

In these situations though, there is a need to maximise impact through effective coordination.

Clarity around roles between the different agencies and engagement in peace time leads to the ability to respond better when it is actually needed.

Federated Farmers is reviewing the events of this year and looking ahead. At a local level, this has included the MPI-led review of the South Island response.

In the Manawatu-Rangitikei, Federated Farmers recently brought together the primary sector to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the flood response, and how we can maximise opportunities going forward.

At a national level, the review will include a discussion with MPI around their views around what worked and didn't, and what changes are needed for future responses.

It's anticipated these reviews will provide clarity and certainty around how best we assist farmers and communities impacted by adverse events.

This leaves farmers impacted by the flooding or drought to get on with farming.